Have a great Fourth of July

I just wanted to take a minute to let everyone know that FierceTelecom will not be publishing on Monday in observance of the Independence Day holiday. We'll be back in your inbox on Tuesday delivering news about the wireline segment of the telecom industry.

Just as important, I also wanted to wish my journalist veteran colleague Jim Barthold-editor of FierceCable-farewell. Jim decided to leave FierceCable to take on a new role as an analyst at the NPD Group. Taking Jim's place on a temporary basis will be well-known Fierce alum Dan O'Shea.

For anyone that's known Jim, his move to become an analyst is not exactly the first time he's ever changed careers.

Well before the birth of the online publication, Jim served as an editor and writer of various local newspapers in the Philadelphia area and then later as the PR man for cable set top box vendor Jerrold, now Motorola, for various years. Yes, you heard me: Jim was once a PR guy.

Over the past decade, Jim and I have crossed paths in various capacities, beginning in 2001 when we both attended a Telcordia event in New Jersey on integrating IP into the wireless network.

Later, Jim took my place as Senior Editor at the former Telecommunications Magazine when I left to become an analyst covering the public sector at Current Analysis in 2005. When I returned to Horizon House in August 2006 my second tour of duty at Telecommunications as the publication's Editor in Chief, Jim became my right hand man on developing content not only for the print publication, but also taking charge of our TelecomMobile online publication.

Since Jim joined myself and Sam Bookman, another Horizon House alum, last year, he helped launch and grow FierceCable into a leading publication covering the cable industry.

Among other changes you see taking place in the Fierce Telecom publication group is the rechristening of our FierceVoIP newsletter as FierceEnterpriseCommunications, which will continue to be led by Jim O'Neill.

With that in mind, I wish Jim and the readers a safe and happy holiday.--Sean